[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 35 (Thursday, March 24, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 24, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
    CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 1804, GOALS 2000: EDUCATE AMERICA ACT

                                 ______


                               speech of

                          HON. GARY A. FRANKS

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 23, 1994

  Mr. FRANKS of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I plan to vote for the 
conference report on Goals 2000. Although this bill is not perfect, I 
recognize that the successful passage of education legislation requires 
a degree of compromise on both sides of the aisle. I support Goals 2000 
because it codifies eight national education goals, a concept first 
proposed by former-President George Bush in 1989. This bill also 
provides $400 million in financial support to States and local school 
systems that choose to improve education for their students using the 
framework of this legislation. This money will be used exclusively for 
improving the education of all students, not just special or needy 
groups.
  This bill provides a greater degree of flexibility to State and local 
governments than has been seen in past Federal education legislation. 
Under this bill, the Secretary of Education can waive statutory or 
regulatory requirements for the major elementary and secondary Federal 
education programs. This bill also allows school systems to use Goals 
2000 funds for specialized public school choice programs such as magnet 
schools and chapter schools.
  I am disappointed to see that Congress will not allow Goals 2000 
funds to support general school choice plans. The competition that 
school choice can bring to elementary and secondary education would 
create another incentive for troubled public schools or troubled public 
school systems to initiate valid reforms. While I am pleased to see 
that one of the national education goals encourages greater parental 
involvement and participation in the education of their children, I 
should point out that school choice also provides a basic way for 
parents to be more involved in the education of their children.

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